Underwater floating and to required level submerged tunnel composed from prefabricated tunnel units



Nov. 18. 1969 D. R. PETRIK 3,478,521

UNDERWATER FLOATING AND TO REQUIRED LEVEL SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMPOSED FROMPREFABRICATED TUNNEL UNITS Filed Aug. 18, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,9 IIIHHHlllllHllllllll IIIIHIIIHHIL 7 FIG. I INVENTQR DRAGAN R. PETE/K F mwmu ATTORNEYS D. R. PETRIK 3,478,521

Nov. 18. 1969 UNDERWATER FLOATING AND TO REQUIRED LEVEL SUBMERGED TUNNELCOMPOSED FROM PREFABRICATED TUNNEL UNITS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18,1965 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

INVENTOR DRAGAN R. PE TR/K ATTORNEYS Nov. 18. 1969 D. R. PETRIK3,478,521 UNDERWATER FLOATING AND TO REQUIRED LEVEL SUBMERGED TUNNELCOMPOSED FROM PREFABRICATED TUNNEL UNITS Flled Aug 18, 1965 3Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

INVENT OR DRAG/1N R. PETR/K FIG. 8

B @Zma @fimu ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,478,521 UNDERWATERFLOATING AND TO REQUIRED LEVEL SUBMERGED TUNNEL COMPOSED FROMPREFABRICATED TUNNEL UNITS Dragan Rudolf Petrik, Pretoria, Transvaal,Republic of South Africa (8 Alice Road, Kensington, Johannesburg,Transvaal, Republic of South Africa) Continuation-impart of applicationSer. No. 252,944, Jan. 21, 1963. This application Aug. 18, 1965, Ser.No. 481,448 Claims priority, application Republic of South Africa, Jan.23, 1962, 62/286 Int. Cl. E02d 29/06, 25/00; B63c 11/34 US. Cl. 61-43 5Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A submerged tunnel construction inwhich the tunnel is maintained suspended in a body of water by anchormeans including ropes or the like connected to winding devices on thetunnel. The winding devices vary the effective length of the ropes toadjust the depth at which the tunnel is submerged. The water ballast onthe tunnel is varied by a weighing device responsive to the tension inthe ropes to control pumps which pump water to and from ballastcompartments in the tunnel. The tunnel may be formed by a plurality ofprefabricated tubes connected together by flexible waterproof sheetswhich permit relative displacement of the tube ends while maintaining acontinuous underwater passageway.

RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part ofapplica tion Ser. No. 252,944 filed Jan. 21, 1963 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a novelunderwater floating tunnel construction particularly useful in jet traintransport systems, but applicable to any type of transport systemsconstructed in lakes, rivers, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention toprovide underwater suspended transport tunnels suitably anchored at adesired depth to resist the buoyant effect of the water which tends todisplace the tunnel upwardly. This tunnel construction may be suspendedat any desired water level out of the influences of waves and shipspassing through the water. The tunnel is advantageously placed at adepth providing surroundings of very favorable temperature and pressureconditions and isolated from the eifects of earthquakes.

Another object of this invention is to provide an underwater tunnelsystem constructed of prefabricated tunnel units made from waterproofbuilding materials such as reinforced concrete or prestressed concrete,metals or plastics in suitable dimensions to provide the jet traintransport system. Such construction avoids the necessity of conventionalboring and supporting structures used in prior art systems.Prefabricated tubular units can be made longer due to very smallexpansion because of its placement in most favorable surroundingconditions.

Another object is to provide underwater tunnel construction havinginstallation and storage rooms for machinery utilized in placing thetunnel units at the required depths, for receiving water ballast in andout of the tunnels, for ventilation, and for emergency entrance and exitopenings into the tunnel system.

Another object is to provide underwater tunnel construction having ananchorage system including a plurality of parallel flexible ropes whichcause the tunnel floor to remain horizontal even though it may movewithin the body of water.

Another object is to provide a tunnel anchor system ineluding afoundation imbedded in the floor of the body of water and flexibleanchor ropes connecting the tunnel to the foundation.

Another object is to provide a waterproof and, if desired, flexibleconnection between adjacent tunnel units which comprises a plasticwaterproof ring sheet secured between two metal plates to permit somerelative movement between adjacent tube units, the degree of movementbeing limited by adjustable tie-ropes.

Another object is to provide underwater tunnel construction havingautomatic regulation of water ballast by means of pumps operated inresponse to instruments measuring the tension in anchor ropes and tosignals of traflic patterns of approaching transport.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent uponreference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction withthe following drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a section of an underwaterfloating tunnel illustrated as having two tunnel units; FIGURE 2 is asection of a submerged floating tunnel comprising six tunnel tubes, twotubes for jet trains, one tube for two ordinary railways, one tube fortwo lanes of heavy trucks, and two tubes for twelve car lanes;

FIGURE 3 illustrates an anchor foundation suitable for use in strongbearing sea-ground;

FIGURE 4 illustrates an anchor system comprising a loaded, weighted-downvessel particularly useful in soft sea-ground;

FIGURE 5 illustrates a rigid connection joining adjacent prefabricatedtunnel units;

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate flexible connections between adjacent tunnelunits;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal wall section illustrating a flexibleconnection with longitudinally adjacent tunnel units ends abutting eachother;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal section view for the flexible connectionbetween adjacent tunnel units spaced from each other;

FIGURE 10 is a section view of the rigid connection between adjacenttunnel units illustrated in FIGURE 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before proceeding to a detaileddescription of the drawing, it should be noted that the suspendedunderwater tunnel transport system of the invention functions on theprinciple that, when the transport load in the tunnel changes, thebuoyant effect of the water tending to surface and push the tunnelupwardly also changes, which changes are reflected in the tension in theanchor ropes holding the tunnel in the submerged condition. The ballaston the tunnel can be regulated automatically by heavy pumps which pumpwater in and out of the tunnel tubes, the pumps operating in response tomeasuring instruments sensing the tension in the anchor ropes or inresponse to an information service about the transport load movingthrough the tunnel.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the underwater tunnel system comprises twotunnel tubes 1 enclosed within external walls 2, each tube having beams3 supporting a floor 4. Center space 5 located between tubes 1 serves asa corridor and exit from the tubes, houses mechanical machinery such aswater pumps, windlasses, etc. and instruments such as manometers for thepumps to obtain the required stresses in anchor-rope 12, and alsoreceives some ballast water pumped in by the pumps. Door 6 connects thetubes to space 5.

Positioned within space 5 are windlasses 7 driven through coupling gear8. Also positioned within space 5 are ladder 9, and ventilation and exitshafts 10 having metal walls 11 and communicating with tubes 1 throughventilating pipes 20. If no ventilation shafts are necessary, awaterproof cover may be provided over the manhole at the top of space 5.

Flexible anchor ropes 12 are connected at one end to windlasses 7 andmay pass over the tubes through wheels 35 and rings 36 to connect at theother end by anchor rods 13 to a cone shaped concrete foundation 14imbedded in ground soil 15 of ground floor 21 (FIGURE 1). The ropes 12may also pass upwardly through pipes 27 in the bottom of wall 2, thepipes being internally sealed by waterproof stopper 28 which isadjustable to various size ropes (FIGURE 2).

An important aspect of the invention is that the anchor ropes 12 bearranged parallel to each other to maintain the tunnel fioor in ahorizontal level position even though the tunnel may shift laterally asshown at 19 in FIGURE 1. The number of anchor ropes used varies, but, inany event, ropes 12 should be provided at least at the ends of each tube1.

The anchoring foundation 13, 14 illustrated in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3 issuitable in very hard and stable ground, such as rock foundations, whichwill retain the concrete 14. A cross beam 33 connects anchor rods 13 toropes 12.

In FIGURE 4 a ballast anchor including a weighted loaded vessel 34imbedding itself below ground floor 21 is provided and is particularlyuseful when the ground soil is very soft and sandy.

Ballast Compartments 18 within walls 2 contain ballast which counteractsthe buoyancy effect of the water and the tendency thereof to surface thetunnel. Part of the ballast may be a fixed weight, the other part beingvariable and comprising Water which is pumped in and out of thecompartments by the water pumps 31a in center space 5. The pumps areoperated in response to the tension in anchor ropes 12 as sensed bysuitable tension indicating instruments 31 connected to the pump motors.Where the tension in the ropes increases, indicating a tendency of thetunnel to move upwardly to the surface, the pumps are activated to pumpwater into compartments 18 to increase the ballast. When the tensiondecreases, as under heavy transport loads, the pumps are activated topump water out of the compartments.

In another control arrangement, the pumps may be operated in response toan information service regarding the amount of traffic or transport loadthrough the tunnel.

The embodiment of FIGURE 2 illustrates an underwater tunnel having sixtunnel tubes, tubes 22 for a jet train, tube 23 for two ordinaryrailways, two tubes having sections 24 and 25 each with three car lanes,and tube 26 for two lanes of heavy trucks. The tunnel is also providedwith ventilation shafts 29, stairs 30, and operating machinery 32.

The prefabricated tubular members which are joined together to form theunderwater tunnel may be rigidly connected as in FIGURES 5 and 10 orflexibly connected as in FIGURES 6 to 9.

In FIGURES 6 to 9 the tubes 37 and 38 have their ends connected by anelastic waterproof ring-sheet 41 fastened to each of the tubes by ametal band 40, the ring-sheet permitting some relative adjustablemovement between the tube ends. Tie-ropes 42 and 43 also connect theadjacent tube ends and serve to adjust the relative position of the endsand limit the spacing d therebetween. Bolts 44 fixed in the end of tube37 pass into aligned holes 46 of tube 38 to prevent rotational movementbetween tubes 37 and 38 and properly align the tubes. This flexibleconnection enables the tubes to be joined so as to angularly deviatefrom each other, for example, to slope downwardly away from each other(FIGURE 6) or upwardly away from each other (FIG- URE 7). Additionally,because the tubes may move slightly upon impact by an external force,cracking or rupturing of the tubes is substantially reduced.

In FIGURES 5 and 10 the tubes are rigidly joined together by boltspassing through flanges 47. For assembly purposes, a waterproof plasticsheet 45 is temporarily placed over the ends of each of the tubes toprevent the inflow of Water.

The underwater tunnel is constructed by first placing the anchorage 14or 34 in place in the ground floor 21 and connecting anchor ropes 12thereto. The prefabricated tubes 1 are launched into the water, theirends closed by temporary plastic sheets 45. Anchor ropes 12 areconnected to windlasses 7, and water ballast is pumped into the ballastcompartments to enable the tube to be submerged to the desired depth Dbeneath the water surface 16 as the windlasses are operated to wind theropes 12. The tube is then connected to the end tube of the alreadyconstructed tunnel portion by properly aligning and placing bolts 44into the corresponding openings 46, connecting the waterproof ring sheetband 41 around outside of the adjoining ends of the tubes, and tieingthe opposed ends of the adjacent tubes together by the tie ropes orchains 43. When the ends of adjacent tubes are so connected, the endcovering sheets 45 are removed to provide a continuous underwater tunnelpassage.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forrns without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An underwater construction comprising buoyant casing means defining atunnel adapted to be immersed in a body of water, an anchorage formaintaining said casing means suspended in said body of water againstthe buoyant effect of the Water tending to cause said casing means tosurface, said anchorage including elongated flexible means connectedbetween said casing means and an anchoring structure adapted to engagethe floor covered by said body of water, means for adjusting theeffective length of said flexible means between said casing means andsaid floor to vary the depth at which said casing means is suspended inthe water, said flexible means normally being pulled taut by the buoyanteffect of the water upon said casing means, means providing a ballastcompartment in said casing means, pump means for pumping water to andfrom said compartment to vary the ballast in said casing means, andmeans responsive to the tension in said flexible means for controllingthe operation of said pump means.

2. The underwater construction defined in claim 1, wherein said casingmeans comprises a plurality of prefabricated tubes arranged inend-to-end relation, and means connecting the adjacent ends of saidtubes to provide an underwater tunnel, said connecting means including aflexible waterproof annulus which allows relative displacement of theadjacent tube ends.

3. The underwater construction defined in claim 1, wherein'said flexiblemeans includes a plurality of parallel rope-like elements arranged insymmetrical relation to said casing means.

4. A submerged tunnel construction comprising a prefabricated buoyantcasing having a plurality of tubes extending therethrough, anchor meansfor maintaining said casing submerged and suspended in a body of wateragainst the buoyant effect of the water acting thereon, a winding devicemounted on said casing, a plurality of rope-like elements connectedbetween said anchor means and said device, said device being operable tovary the eifective lengths of said elements between said casing and saidanchor means to adjust the depth to which said casing is immersed insaid body of water, means forming at least one ballast compartment insaid casing, pump means for pumping Water to and out of said compartmentto vary the ballast on said casing, and means responsive to the tensionin said rope-like elements for controlling the operation of said pumpmeans.

5. A submerged tunnel construction comprising buoyant, tunnel definingcasing means adapted to be submerged in a body of water, an anchoragefor maintaining said casing means suspended in said body of Wateragainst the buoyant effect of the water acting on said casing means,means for controlling the buoyancy of said casing means in said body ofwater comprising means providing a variable ballast on said casingmeans, means for sensing variations in a load applied to said casingmeans, and means 1 responsive to sensed variations in the load forcontrolling said amount of said ballast in said casing means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,544 9/1885 Case 6l42 439,84111/1890 Hobart 6143 447,735 3/1891 Moeser 6142 486,986 11/1892 Schinke6l72.3 X

851,411 4/1907 Ferrell 61-42 1,547,432 7/1925 Meem 6143 1,861,436 7/1932Collins.

DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner

